Author Archives: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

MFM’s Second Public Meeting: A Promising Idea Is Put To A Difficult Test

Text by Dawoud Kringle

MFM jpg logoOn Monday, 1/25/16, I attended the second public meeting of Musicians for Musicians (MFM). The regular DBDBD reader will recall my article about the first meeting wherein I mentioned that, as a milestone in the fledgling organization’s humble beginning, it was a successful first step. Now, MFM takes its second step.

MFM founder and president Sohrab Saadat Ladjavardi held court once again for the second meeting. The tradition of a musical interlude, started by Saadat at the first meeting, was led by Zikrayat leader Sami Abu Shumays. He led the participants in a vocal call and response that allowed the participants to experience firsthand the nuances of maqam based melodies.

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Music Listings – 2/1 through 2/7/2016

1. El Tryptophan

Date: Monday, February 1, 2015
Time: 8:30pm
Venue: Manhattan Inn (632 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222)
Tickets: $10
Genre: singer-song writer/indie rock/electronics/noise

El Tryptophan who is celebrating the release of his debut album Guilt Vacation which is an  experimental ether of mellow distortion adaptations and arrangement edges.” (Impose Magazine). Gryphon Rue, the innovative voice behind El Tryptophan, comes from a legacy of visual artists and political activists. At age 18, Rue toured with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary in Vietnam to raise money for victims of Agent Orange. Peter Yarrow proclaims Rue’s music to be “as interesting as it is original. He’s going to make a big, wonderful splash.” Rue is a great-grandson of the artist Alexander Calder, who’s experiments with noise and percussion in mobiles helped shape 20th century avant-garde music. Having studied electronic music at Bard College with avant-garde composers Marina Rosenfeld, Richard Teitelbaum, and Zeena Parkins, Rue’s eclectic sound draws from his visual arts background, which includes jobs curating exhibitions and restoring sculptures. Rue has attracted the likes Grammy award-nominated songwriter Peter Himmelman, who declares: “El Tryptophan has in his blood what so many others want; a truly fearless creative spirit.”

Listen to “Syntax Static” 

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Music Activism: On my trip to Capitol Hill last week, I watched Karoline Kramer-Gould make history

Text by Blake Morgan

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Karoline Kramer-Gould & Blake Morgan (photo courtesy of Blake Morgan)

Back in October, Karoline Kramer-Gould, the courageous music director of WJCU in Cleveland made history and broke ranks with broadcasters by co-writing an open letter with me––to Congress––in support of artists’ rights.

She is the first radio-station music director to openly support artists’ pay for radio play, and she has paid the ultimate professional price, and left the station as a result.

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Music Listings – 1/18 through 1/24/2016

1. Arts For Arts Week Festival

Date: Monday, January 18 through Sunday, January 24, 2016
Time: 7pm
Venue: Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center (107 Suffolk St, New York, New York 10002)
Tickets: $10
Genre: free jazz/improv/dance/poetry

The Evolving Series has grown into a festival. The Music, Dance, Poetry and Art we make is important. It keeps us inspired and hopeful. It is our response to what is happening in the world. Evolving is great art in the context of social and spiritual responsibility. It is a shared experience and celebration of living art.
This is marks the Second year of the Artist Campaign. It is humbling to see the community of artists coming together to support each others visions.

THIRD WEEK SCHEDULE

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